CHAPTER XX

“Certainly, Mrs. Trapes! But can’t
you see that the whole world—­my world,
anyway—­is full of a refulgent glory, a magic
light where nothing mean or sordid can possibly be,
a light that my eyes never saw till now nor hoped
to see, a radiance that may never fail, I hope—­a—­er—­”

“Oh, go on, Mr. Geoffrey, go on. Only I
guess I’ll light the gas jest the same, if you
don’t mind!” Which Mrs. Trapes did forthwith.
“But what was you a-doin’ of all alone
in the dark?”

“Glorying in life, Mrs. Trapes, and praising
the good God for health and strength to enjoy it and
the fulness thereof—­”

“Oh—­her eyes, was it? Mr. Geoffrey,
I’ll tell you what—­a girl may look
‘yes’ with her eyes a whole week an’
say ‘no’ with her mouth jest once and
mean ’no’—­when it’s to
a peanut man—­Lordy Lord! what’s that?”
And Mrs. Trapes jumped as a hand rapped softly on the
door, and stared horrified to see a human head protrude
itself into the room while a voice said: